Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-02-26
HEBREW BUTCHERS.
How they Kin Cattle end
Poultry for Meat.
a Years Study Fits the Executionar fo'
the Poaition o. "Shoahet.'

TIE custom oi the Hebrews OF killing
cattle after the manner prescribed by tho
Mosaic law, which Las recently been pro-
hibitcd in some parts Of Germany on the
ground OF '~tcruclty to animals, has been
il vogue in Nashville = number OF years,
says the Union Of that city. According
20 tie jewish law, which was laid down
by Moses, no butcher is allowed to kill
his own cattle. This must be done by a
functionary known by the title Of
<4shoshet," who receives his title directly
from the Jewish congregation. 4 years
study is required by q person to fit him
for the position Of "shoshet," Tie man
ner Of killing, as described to a UHton
reporter by one Of the butchers, who
practised the custom for many years, is
quite interesting.
"Thc doomed animals head is drawn
down to a mig IN the floor, whercupon
a rope is fastened to the creatures left
hind log, which is then hoisted up until
the body falls over On its side, thus
compelling the animal to stand upon its
f%orcfect with its head resting upon its
horns. At this j~uncturc the shOshet, armed
with a long knife, the b.ade Of which
is some two feet in length and rs sharp az
a razor, advances to the animals head
and rub8 his hand over the neck in order
to find & soft place. This done, lie
deity and quickly drawa the deadly
weapon across the animals throat. He
IS only allowed to make ono cut and two
clashes. No one is allowed TO touch the
animal until it has bled to death. When
life is extinct 1t IS laid upon its back to
be dressed.
"The next thing done by the shoshct
is 10 insert his arm on the inside Of the
carcass and ascertain whether the lungs
are perfectly free from the ribs. If such
is found to be the case the lungs are
drawn out, placed upon a table and
thoroughly tested, in order to ascertain
their condition, fort upon lis dcpends tue
hcalthlulncss OF the meat. The test Is
accomplished by blowing up tho lungs.
II they are found to- be air-tight the
shoshct attaches his official seal to the
meat, and no meat can be sold to Hebrew
customers unless so branded. The seal
contains the word Kosher printed in
Hebrew characters. The entire process
~ ~ accnr1 a n m With Tho r,,1oo IoT1 down
in the Mosaic law.
"Do you consider this manner OF kill
ing cattle cruel, as has been charged by
the press Of German w asked the re-
porter.
'Cruel! No, sir; just tho contrary. II
is in my opinion, tho only perfectly hui
name way to Kill. Animals slaughtered
in this manner die a perfectly pain
loss death, which il far from being the
case with the modern style of knocking
animals on tho head, half a dozen blows
beng oft.n necessary before the poor
creature is completely stunned. Tie Jew.
I'm mode Of killing has been proven by
some Of The most learned men of the
world 10 be tho best method Of killing
cattle. One good effect resulting from
this mole of slaughtering is that every
drop Of blood is run out Of the carcass
before it is dressed, the Mosaic law for
bidding Jews to cat the blood of ami
mas, The same law regulates the cat